Joseph Wright of Derby, A.R.A.

Prince Habsburg-Lothringen, East Barsham Hall, Norwich, circa 1930;
Mr and Mrs C. W. Kayser, Eaton Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire;
Eaton Hall sale, Henry Spencer & Sons, 21st May 1946, lot 147 (as 'A Portrait of Lucy Wilkinson, Daughter of John and Nancy Stafford', listed in the Morning Room);
Anonymous sale, London, Philips, 26th April 1982;
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 22nd May 1985, lot 204

Joseph Wright's account books, 1769, 'Two Miss Staffords, £21' (among the sitters in Liverpool);
B. Nicholson, Joseph Wright of Derby Painter of Light, London 1968, Vol. 1, p. 220;
B. Nicholson, 'Addenda; Joseph Wright of Derby Painter of Light', Apollo, June 1969, No. 88, pp. 2-3

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be very good condition, with no apparent extant damage or loss of paint. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals retouching to one repaired old horizontal tear in the background, upper right, approximately 2 inches long, and one small area of retouching in the background, upper left. There is some minor strengthening to the silhouette of the sitters costume in places, and a small number of further scattered minor flecks of retouching. Overall the picture would appear to be in very good, largely original condition. FRAME Held in a carved and gilded period wooden frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com, or Ludo Shaw Stewart on +44 (0)207 293 5816, or at ludovic.shawstewart@sothebys.com.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The sitter was the daughter of John Stafford of Macclesfield and his wife Lucy, daughter of William Tatton of Wythenshaw (1674-1732). A portrait of her sister Penelope, which was conceived as a pendant to the present painting and hung with it until 1982, is now in the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Both paintings are believed to have been executed together in 1769, in Liverpool, and the colour and handling of the portrait, as well as the style of the sitter's dress, is very similar to those of Wright's known Liverpool sitters, notably Frances Hesketh (Walker Gallery), A Seated Woman Wearing Earrings (Private Collection), and Mary Hunt (Lanhydrock House, Cornwall).

We are grateful to Lucy Salt for her assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.